Razor Sharpener

Date1920

Mediumstainless steel

Dimensions1 7/8 × 2 3/4 × 2 1/2 in. (4.8 × 7 × 6.4 cm)

ClassificationsTools, Implements & Weights

Credit LineAlbuquerque Museum, gift of Paul Carlson

Object numberPC1990.49.2.A

DescriptionThis Twinplex razor blade sharpener, manufactured by Twinplex Sales Co. in St. Louis between the 1920s and 1940s, features a polished metal cylindrical body with a small folding crank handle. The device was designed to extend the life of double-edged razor blades by refining their edges through a mechanical stropping process. A hinged lid allows access to the interior mechanism, and a stamped serial number is visible on the side. The sharpener is housed in a brown leather-covered case with a metal latch closure. During the early-to-mid 20th century, devices like this were essential for maintaining shaving tools, reducing the need for frequent blade replacements.

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